Let’s face it; we don’t like talking about money. Us artists, I mean.

Sure we like receiving lots of it but we feel uncomfortable negotiating for it, what more asking for it. It’s a common problem I see in a lot of my friends in the comic book industry. It’s usually much more pronounced in the newbies I see beating the pavement nowadays.

I know it was one of mine.

I can think of a few reasons why this is so.

1. Not a lot of artists like to talk about how much they’re getting for their work.

So, with everyone keeping mum about their page rates it’s kinda hard getting a good solid ball park figure of how much the market is bearing and figuring out from that how much you should be getting.

2. Artists are not trained to “sell” themselves.

I had the most fortunate chance (though at that time I thought it was most unfortunate. I digress however…) to have taken some marketing subjects in college so I know a bit. Even so, it took me a lot of years to get comfortable enough to “sell” myself and my work.

3. Most of us hate numbers

I don’t think I have to expound on this one.

The fact remains however that knowing how much your work is worth is very important.

We do have bills to pay, after all.

Besides, we pour our hearts and souls on our drawings. We should at least make sure we’re getting what’s due to us.

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